Joseb johnson



(NoModeL J. JOHNSON.

- Reciprocating Cleaner for Nuts, 8w.

No. 241,667. Patented May 17, I88l.

ATTORNEYS N. FEW-IRS. Fhblol flwgnphen Washington 0. a Q

UNITED STATES:

PATENT OFFICE,

J OSEE JOHNSON, OF. NORFOIlK, VIRGINIA, ASSlG-NOR TOv BENTON HARPER .VELLINES, OF SAME'PLAOE.

RECIPROCATING CLEANER FOR NUTS, 80C.

SI ECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,667, dated May 1'7, 1.881.

Application filed February 4, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEE J OHNSON, of N orfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and valuable Improvements in Reciprocating Cleaners for Nuts, Dried Fruit, Grain, and other Articles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a top view of a machine embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section, of the same.

This invention has relation to means for effecting'a thorough cleaning of nuts, dried fruit, coffee, grain, and other articles; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the reciprocating box or receptacle having aslatted or open-work bottom and pins or pegs rising from said bottom, said pins or pegs being arranged atsuitable distances apart throughout its extent, all as hereinafter shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, the letterA designates the box or receptacle, having albottom, B, composed of slats, with interstices between the same, or otherwise constructed with open spaces or interstices which shall be large enough to allow the dust and trash from the articles being cleaned to pass freely through, and at the same time small enough to prevent the passage of the said articles which are designed to be supported on the bottom. Rising from the bottom of the box are the whipping pins or pegs c, which are arranged at suitable distances apart throughout its extent, substantially as shown in the drawings. The box or receptacle is designed to have a reciprocating motion, and for this purpose it may be supported upon bearings or hangers allowing such motion; or it may be connected to arms, which are, in turn, connected, to a rock-shaft or rockshafts arranged in bearings, preferably below the box, as indicated in the drawings, the effect of this construction being such that the bottom will at each reciprocation lift the articles therein slightly and then move downward 5o therefrom, so that it will move freely under the mass, and the pressure of the latter during the motion of the box will be less upon the bottom.

Motion may be communicated to the box by .5 5 hand or power, the gearing being connected to the box by means of a pitman usually, and balance-wheels being employed to assist in" keeping up a steady-and uniform movement of reciprocation. Usually the box is provided at one end with a discharge-opening, d, the nuts being designed to be fed in at the other end.

The operation is as follows: The nuts or other articles to be cleaned are fed into the box at one end, and a reciprocating motion is given to said box, as indicated above, thereby rapidly forcing the pins or cleaners o to and fro through the mass, which is sufficiently lifted and supported by the bottom. The nuts are therefore forcibly driven about and against each other, and a thorough cleaning action is the result, the nuts passing regularly from the feed end to the discharge end of the box, and the dust and small trash falling through the interstices of the bottom. The feed may be kept up continuously during the motion of the box, or the latter may receive a charge before the shaking is commenced. When the charge is large or the motion very rapid, a cover may be arranged over the box to prevent the nuts or other articles from being thrown over the wall of the box. The same effect may be produced by connecting the pins or cleaners to the cover and making them of sufficient length to descend to the bottom of the box; but the mode first described is preferred.

Sometimes I design to use for the bottom a wire or perforated screen, causing the same to rest on bars extending along or across the bottom of thereceptacle, said bars carrying the cleaning-pins, which project upward through the interstices or perforations of the screenbottom, above the same.

Having described this invention, what I In testimony that I claim the above I have IO claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, hereunto signed my name in the presence of is two witnesses.

A reciprocating cleaner for nuts, fruit, grain,

5 or other articles, consisting of a receptacle or box, A, its open slatted or interstitial bottom Witnesses: B, and the rubbing pins or pegs rising from THos. P. WARREN, saidbottom at uniform distances apartthrough- B. H. VELLINEs. out its extent, substantially as specified.

J OSEE JOHNSON. 

